A victory within the New Orleans VooDoo’s grasp was let go thanks to three New Orleans fumbles, especially one critical near the end of the first half, as the Pittsburgh Power defeated New Orleans 56-49 Thursday night at the New Orleans Arena.

“In my mind, I felt like we had it and we gave them ... them 14 points,” VooDoo Coach Derek Stingley said.

Although New Orleans held its biggest lead of the season at 14-0 with just more than a minute left in the first half, it all crashed in a matter of seconds.

First, Pittsburgh quarterback Anthony Morelli, who had thrown for six touchdowns and run for one, threw a screen pass to Jason Willis, who dashed between the block of Lonnell Dewalt and the wall for an 12-yard touchdown with one minute remaining in the half.

Pittsburgh tied the score 15 seconds later after New Orleans receiver Chris Wilson was stripped of the ball on the ensuing possession. The fumble was recovered by Abe Koroma, his second recovery of the game. On the next play, Morelli passed to Willis again from 11 yards out to give Pittsburgh the tie with 45 seconds remaining.

The VooDoo had a chance to break the tie when Berry took the kickoff off the screen and raced 36 yards to set New Orleans up at the 14 with 37 seconds left. However, Pittsburgh held New Orleans at the 1-yard line as time ran out.

New Orleans scored its first touchdown on the final play of the first quarter, as Wimprine passed to James Jordan across the middle from the 5-yard line. It completed a six-play, 46-yard drive.

Wimprine passed to Carlese Franklin and Berry for 13 and 12 yards on the first two plays of the drive.

The VooDoo extended its lead to 14-0 in the second quarter with 3:20 remaining, as Wimprine found Berry on a 26-yard flag route on third-and-10.

Pittsburgh took a 21-14 lead on Morelli’s pass to Dewalt at the back of the wall from 17 yards out. There was some controversy concering the catch, as Dewalt caught the ball while hanging on the wall and possibly losing the ball on the backside of the wall and regaining possession out of the sight of the referee.

Just one play before, John Green had a certain interception and nothing but a clear field ahead of him, but he dropped the bll, giving Pittsburgh another shot.

“I wish John had just caught the ball and fell to the ground,” Stingley said.

It took just a matter of seconds for the VooDoo to tie it up. Wimprine, while falling backward, saw James Jordan standing all alone at the 25-yard line. Jordan made the easy catch and raced in for a 33-yard completion.

Morelli hit Xavier Lee on a 12-yard touchdown pass as the Power took a 28-21 lead with 5:24 remaining in the third quarter.

Wimprine’s second fumble of the game came with 50 seconds remaining in the third quarter, and Caleb Bostic recovered at the Pittsburgh 17. Morelli scored from the 1-yard line and give Pittsburgh a 35-21 lead.

New Orleans countered when Berry took the kickoff off the screen and raced the distance, 58 yards, for the touchdown. It was the longest kickoff return in franchise history. The previous record was set by Berry earlier this season at 57 yards against Tampa Bay.

Berry finished with 242 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns, and Wimprine was 25-of-40 for 279 yards and six touchdowns.